Written In Dust is event cinema and music performance: a contemporary silent film set in Beijing with live music performance, which is a fusion of traditional Chinese and modern British music, composed and performed by classical Chinese musician Ling Peng and pianist/guitarist Andy Middleton.

The film tells the tragic tale of three young Chinese rural migrants who come in search of the new life that modern Beijing promises. The tensions created by the pursuit of money and the repression of love lead to moral corruption, betrayal, lies and the ultimate tragedy. The film repositions and reinvigorates the silent genre as a contemporary storytelling genre, encouraging the creation of new musical composition, collaboration and improvisation.

Ling Peng uses the Erhu (a two-stringed Chinese violin), GuZheng (Chinese zither) and Xun (a wind instrument), and Andy Middleton uses the piano and guitar, with supporting electronica. Combining these instruments and culturally distinct musical traditions creates a fascinating and powerful fusion, which brings to life the emotions and themes of the silent film to powerful and haunting effect, tracing the journey through moods of early optimism, internal struggle, violent threat, tragic melancholy and tenuous hope. They sample their live performance, reworking and looping their melodies and adding improvised layers, as the three migrants find themselves morally lost in the in the dark shadows cast by the city lights.

Shot on a very low budget, with a classical cinematic sensibility and cinematography, the film shows contemporary Beijing as we rarely see it, and tells a tale which resonates universally. The fusion of traditional Chinese and modern British music with electronic live music performance underlines the themes of tradition and modernity within the film, and offers a powerfully moving experience for the audience. This is a film and live music event like no other: a cross-cultural collaboration in film and music that can only be experienced live.

“A plot crueler than a Coen brothers flick and virtuosic live music make this film the best we’ve seen all year. Don’t miss this opportunity.” City Weekend Magazine, Beijing, July 2015

The performance will be followed by Q&A with the film director, Gareth Rees, and musicians. This performance is the London premiere of the film.

More information here.

Doors open at 18.30, for a 19.30 start.

Refreshments will be available in our licenced cafe/bar.

TICKETS & PRICING

Autumn Season 2015 ticketing applies.

Advance tickets may be purchased from Billetto, or direct from the Museum by calling 020 7840 2200 in office hours.